The French team’s 2024 campaign in the top tier has started off in a disastrous manner. The team, owned by Renault, is facing the challenge of an overweight car and a weak Power Unit, resulting in a position at the back of the grid.
During the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ocon and Pierre Gasly found themselves starting at P19 and P20 respectively. This clearly demonstrates the uphill battle they face with their Alpine A524, which is considered the worst among the ten F1 cars.
In anticipation of the Australian Grand Prix, Ocon was questioned about how he maintains motivation in such circumstances during the FIA-hosted F1 drivers’ press conference. He expressed his frustration, stating that it is the worst feeling to perform well but not be able to score any points. The lack of reward at the end of the day makes it mentally challenging to push oneself to the maximum.
Nevertheless, Ocon acknowledged that it is part of the job and emphasized the importance of doing the best with the resources at hand. He concluded by affirming his commitment to the sport.
Alpine has been facing significant challenges for quite some time. The team has been in disarray since the awkward announcement at Spa-Francorchamps, after last year’s summer break, that Otmar Szafnauer was no longer part of their plans. Since then, the team has experienced a constant turnover of key personnel, with individuals being fired or leaving.
Although Bruno Famin holds the position of Alpine F1 team principal, the ultimate authority lies with Renault CEO Luca de Meo. It is evident that de Meo’s lack of understanding of F1, combined with the arrogance commonly associated with individuals in his position, is severely impacting the team.
Similar to the late Sergio Marchionne, who made the ill-fated decision to appoint Mattia Binotto as the head of Ferrari, de Meo’s lack of F1 knowledge is hindering the success of the team. It is clear that being a high-ranking executive in the automotive industry does not automatically translate to being knowledgeable about racing or capable of running a successful F1 team.
De Meo falls into the category of “auto bigwigs” who are clueless about F1. Consequently, the team is currently in a dire state. The only glimmer of hope may be to sell the team to someone who can transform it into more than just a back-of-the-grid operation, considering the deep hole they are currently digging.
While firing individuals may give the impression of taking decisive action, the process of hiring new personnel is much lengthier. It is always a couple of years away before top talent can join a team, as gardening leave is a common practice in F1 contracts for highly skilled individuals.
With a significant portion of the staff who conceived the current Alpine and its development trajectory likely gone or departing the team, the car is in a state of uncertainty. To put it differently, this year’s A624 is slower than last year’s A523 at this same time. This is difficult to comprehend, especially considering the progress made by the other nine F1 teams.
Ocon believes that there are numerous minor issues that are not functioning as desired. However, given the competitiveness of the field at the moment, these details can make a significant difference if there are many things that are not right.
“I remember being so far behind the grid with Manor, but nowadays it’s much closer to the field. The field is much more condensed from P1 to where we are, and it requires a very different approach to resolving things. So, yes, we will see where and how we progress throughout the year, but our goal is to make progress.”
Regarding the challenging situation his team is currently facing, Ocon expressed his dissatisfaction. Neither the team in Viry nor Enstone enjoys struggling so much during race weekends.
“It’s a long season, and we are working towards optimizing the car, understanding our issues, and turning things around. Hopefully, it’s easier said than done. Until we achieve it, they are just words. But this is our team’s objective.”
“We will not release the pressure until we reach that point. And that’s everyone’s goal. The team’s morale is high, and everyone is motivated. That’s what matters most at the moment,” added Ocon, who will be making his 136th Grand Prix start in Melbourne on Sunday.